Cong farmers' wing to stage hunger strike

Charging that the NDA government is involved in a mega scam in operating the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), just for the benefits of the insurance companies owned by Goutam Adani and Anil Ambani, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) Kissan Khet Mazdoor Congress noted that it is a Rs 1.20 lakh crore scam so far, and an indefinite hunger strike would be launched in front of the CBI office in Bengaluru on Wednesday (December 26), if a probe into this issue is not started by then.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi, some IAS officials, and others would be in trouble if a proper investigation is conducted into this scam which is bigger than the Rafale deal scam. In one season itself, around Rs 15,000 crore profit was earned by these insurance companies floated by Adani and Ambani who are friends of Modi," said KPCC Kissan Khet Mazdoor Congress State president Sachin Meega.

Speaking to media persons here on Monday, he stated that the CAG and CSE reports have already shown that PMFBY brings more benefits for insurance companies than farmers, while the CBI has also not started the investigation due to the influence of Modi, though a complaint was filed a year back.

Meega said, in 2016-17 kharif season, Rs 1,708 crore premium amount including that of the State goverment and Central government, which also included Rs 203 crore by farmers, was paid to the insurance companies. But, only Rs 337 crore compensation was given to the farmers. The insurance companies made a profit of Rs 1,371 crore, he said.

In Dharwad district, Rs 31.4 crore premium amount was collected from the farmers (Rs 211 crore total premium amount), and Rs 67.37 crore compensation was given to the farmers. This brought Rs 144 crore profit for the insurance companies. Officials of different departments are also suspected to be involved in this, and a separate complaint in this regard would be filed with the vigilance commission, he said.

By helping only insurance companies to make profit in the PMFBY and by deceiving the farmers, Narendra Modi has indirectly provoked farmers to commit suicide. Therefore, a high-level probe is being demanded, Meega noted.

'Redesign scheme'

"Instead of considering the loss of crops at the level of Gram Panchayat or Hobli-level, crop insurance scheme should be re-designed on individual basis like life insurance and vehicle insurance, using modern technology.

No claim bonus facility should also be there. We have already suggested the benefits such a scheme for farmers, to Congress Party chief Rahul Gandhi, as it would be better than loan waiver," Meega said.

Congress leaders Sharanappa Mattikatti, Anilkumar Patil, and others were present.